Improvement in slate-pencil holders



' H. T. OUSHMAN.

Slate-Pencil Holder.

No. 219,151. Patented Sept. 2,1879

W I'INESSES. INVENTOR.

full

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY T. OUSHMAN, OF NORTH BENNINGTON, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENT IN SLATE-PENCIL HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 219,151, dated September 2, 1879; application filed July 19', 1878.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY T. OUSHMAN, of North Bennington, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented an Improved Slate'Pencil Holder, of which the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, forms a specification.

It is well known that when'a pencil is well worn up the stub alone is extremely inconvenient to use, and is often lost or thrown aside as worthless. This holder is designed to provide means by which such stubs may be utilized. Primarily it is designed for the use of children in school and one of the objects had in view is to prevent the formation of an awkward and cramped style of chirography on the part of the child, which almost invariably follows the use of short pieces or stubs of pencils in their earliest efforts in writing and drawing. This result is attained by providing a holder or handle for the remnant of the pencil, which is long enough to constitute a stylus of the usual length. lt is also furnished with each pencil, and, together with the pencil, is sold at the retail price of one cent. It is made of cheap material, and is adapted to last during the life-time of the pencil proper.

The invention is fully illustrated by the drawing, wherein D represents a small cylinder, open at both ends, and of the same caliber as the diameter of the pencil designed to be held. B is the slate-pencil as inserted in the holder or tube D, of which the top is visible at c, where the wall of the tube is broken away to exhibit the same.

The pencil fits the holder D suff ciently tight to be held or retained in place by frictional contact. In the opposite end of tube D is fitted drive-rod A, which is of such diameter as to closely fit tube D, and be quite firmly held in place therein by frictional contact alone. Drive-rod A can be forced entirely through tube D, if desired; but generally it is constructed slightly longer than tube D.

When the pencil is not in use the pointed end may be inserted in the tube, in which case the tube serves as a point-protector. Before use the whole structure is about the length of an ordinary lead-pencil, and may beconveniently carried in the pocket.

The frequent insertion and withdrawal of the slate-pencil in and from the tube have a tendency to so wear the respective surfaces that the pencil will easily slip in the tube, so that the ordinary pressure upon its point when in use would tend to and often does force the pencil up into the tube, so that the lower end of tube D would rest on the slate. To pr'ovide against this the drive-rod A is introduced into the upper end of the tube D, as shown, and its lower end forms an abutment or back-stop for the top end of the pencil to rest against when in use, if the frictional contact between the tube and pencil is insufficient of itself to counteract or resist the downward pressure of the hand in marking. As the pencil is gradually worn away therod Ais forced into tube D, so as to leave a suitable length of the pointed end of the pencil exposed for use.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the tube performs the double function of forming a ferrule-connection between the slate-pencil (however short it may be) and the drive-rod, thus conjointly constituting a holder or handle of appropriate length, and of protecting the pencil-point when the same is not in use, while the drive-rod does duty not only as an extension -handle, but also as an adjustable abutment or stop within the tube for resisting the downward pressure of the hand upon the point of the pencil, and thereby prevents the pencil from being forced up into the tube in obedience to such pressure.

I claim- The slate-pencil holder consisting of the drive-rod A and tube D, having bore of uniform caliber throughout its length, said driverod adapted to be retained in adjustment therein by frictional contact alone, substantially as described, and for the purposes set V forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name, at North Bennington, Vermont, this 26th day of December, A. D. 1878.

M. B. Scorn, FRANKLIN Scorn 

